What Are Gross Motor Skills in Early Years?

Gross motor skills are the abilities that involve the use of large muscles in the body to carry out activities such as walking, running, jumping, climbing, and throwing. These skills are about using the arms, legs, and the core muscles to move, balance, and coordinate physical actions. Developing gross motor skills happens naturally as children grow and is supported through play, movement activities, and opportunities to practise different actions. In the early years, they form the base for more refined physical abilities and independence.

Growth in gross motor skills starts from birth and continues through the toddler years, preschool years, and beyond. Young children build these abilities through everyday actions like crawling, standing, and walking, and later extend to more controlled movements like hopping or skipping. These skills are not only about strength but also coordination, posture, and the ability to combine movements smoothly.

Why is Gross Motor Skills Development Important?

Gross motor skills allow children to engage in the world around them. Having strong gross motor skills means they can join in active play, learn practical abilities such as dressing themselves, and interact with friends in physical games. Good gross motor development supports a child’s confidence as they feel capable of using their body to move, explore, and succeed in physical tasks.

Gross motor activities also support other areas of development. Movement stimulates brain growth, encourages problem-solving as children work out how to move their bodies in different ways, and supports social and emotional wellbeing by allowing children to join group play and feel connected.

Examples of Gross Motor Skills in Early Years

Children develop a wide range of gross motor skills in their first few years. Some examples include:

• Rolling over
• Sitting without support
• Crawling across different surfaces
• Standing while holding on and letting go
• Walking steadily across a room
• Running without stumbling
• Jumping with both feet off the ground
• Climbing stairs or playground equipment
• Throwing and catching large balls
• Balancing on one foot for a short time

These actions appear in stages, with each skill building on the ones before it. For example, crawling supports the muscles and coordination needed for walking, and balancing helps with riding a scooter or bicycle later on.

Stages of Gross Motor Development

Children generally pass through recognisable stages of gross motor development. In infancy, movements are mostly reflexive, but as muscles strengthen, they can carry out intentional actions such as reaching for toys and rolling their bodies. Toddlers often gain the ability to walk which opens the door to more adventurous activities like climbing and running. In the preschool years, they develop better control over movements and can combine actions, such as running and kicking a ball at the same time.

Growth in gross motor skills tends to follow an order:

1. Early control of the head and neck
2. Rolling over from tummy to back and back to tummy
3. Sitting without help
4. Crawling and pulling to stand
5. Standing alone and walking
6. Running, climbing, and jumping
7. Coordinated actions such as hopping, skipping, and riding tricycles

This sequence may vary between children, and each child develops at their own rate.

Activities That Encourage Gross Motor Development

Opportunities for children to move freely and engage in physical play help develop gross motor skills. This can happen indoors or outdoors and can be guided or self-directed. Activities may include:

• Playing chasing games such as tag
• Dancing to music
• Building obstacle courses with cushions, chairs, or outdoor equipment
• Jumping in and out of hoops
• Riding tricycles or balance bikes
• Throwing and catching large soft balls
• Crawling through tunnels
• Climbing on play structures
• Stretching and bending with simple exercise routines

By offering a range of movements, adults can help children strengthen different muscle groups and improve coordination.

Role of Balance and Coordination in Gross Motor Skills

Balance is the ability to stay steady and avoid falling, while coordination is the ability to move different parts of the body together efficiently. Both are part of gross motor skill development. For instance, walking requires balance, and throwing a ball requires coordination between the arms, legs, and eyes. These abilities progress as children gain experience in moving their bodies in varied ways.

Practising activities like balancing on one foot, walking along low beams, or hopping on alternate feet encourages control and body awareness. Coordination increases when children participate in games that combine several movements, such as kicking a ball while running, or skipping with a rope.

How Gross Motor Skills Support Other Areas of Learning

Using large muscle movements is linked to other skills, including fine motor skills. For example, a child needs core stability and arm strength before they can control hand movements for drawing or writing. Movement affects brain development by building neural connections, which support thinking, language, and problem-solving skills.

Gross motor skills influence independence too. Climbing stairs helps a child move around the home without help, bending and stretching allows them to dress themselves, and running or cycling gives them freedom to explore their environment.

Factors That Influence Gross Motor Development

Children’s gross motor progress can be shaped by several factors. These include:

• Opportunities for active play
• Access to safe spaces indoors and outdoors
• Nutrition and overall health
• Time spent in varied movements rather than long periods of inactivity
• Support and encouragement from adults

Genetics plays a part in growth and strength, but experiences shape coordination, balance, and skill. A child given daily opportunities to run, climb, and play actively is more likely to develop strong gross motor abilities.

Supporting Gross Motor Skills in Group Settings

Adults caring for children in early years settings can support gross motor skills by providing structured and free-play opportunities. Structured games give children a clear goal, such as completing a relay race, while free play allows them to experiment with movement in their own way. Both are valuable for building physical abilities and confidence.

Outdoor environments give children space to run and climb, while indoor spaces can be set up with soft play equipment, tunnels, or mats for rolling and stretching. By keeping activities varied and fun, children stay motivated to move and practise their skills.

Common Challenges in Gross Motor Development

Some children may struggle with certain movements. This can happen for a range of reasons, from health conditions affecting muscle strength to limited opportunities for active play. Signs of difficulty might include frequent tripping, trouble climbing stairs, or an unwillingness to join physical games.

In these situations, gentle encouragement and extra practice can make a difference. Activities can be adapted to match a child’s abilities, starting with simpler movements and building up gradually. If concerns remain, parents or carers can seek advice from health professionals for further guidance.

How Gross Motor Skills Link to Social Development

Physical play often involves interaction with other children. Games such as football, chasing, or dancing in a group build friendships and teach cooperation. Learning to share equipment, wait for a turn, and follow rules of a game are all social skills supported through gross motor activities.

Confidence in moving helps children join in group play, reducing feelings of isolation. For example, being able to run without stumbling makes a child more comfortable joining a game of tag, which can lead to new social connections.

Encouraging Daily Physical Activity

Regular opportunities for active movement help children keep developing gross motor skills. This can be supported by:

• Walking to local parks
• Letting children help in the garden by digging or carrying light items
• Encouraging dancing at home to favourite tunes
• Setting up obstacle courses in the living room with cushions and boxes
• Playing ball games in open spaces

Adults can model an active lifestyle by joining in and showing enjoyment during movement activities.

Final Thoughts

Gross motor skills are at the heart of a child’s physical growth in the early years. They give children the ability to move confidently, interact with the world around them, and take part in play that supports learning in many areas. From the earliest actions of rolling and crawling to the later skills of running, hopping, and climbing, each stage builds on the last. By offering varied, fun, and safe opportunities for active play, adults can help children develop the strength, coordination, and balance they need to grow and thrive.